About

Tucked away in St Michael's Alley, part of a labyrinth of charming medieval courts and alleys off Cornhill and Lombard Street in the City, the Jamaica Wine House was originally London's first coffee house which opened in 1652 and was visited by Samuel Pepys.

Known affectionately as "the Jampot", the pub is open from Monday to Friday and is the perfect spot to soak up the atmosphere and history of the Square Mile.

As well as City workers and tourists, who love to gather in the alley outside on warm evenings after work, the pub is also a haunt of bell-ringers and walking tours.

The Jamaica Wine House serves a wide selection of traditional Kentish cask ales, as well as international lagers and a good choice of wines.

In the basement, you'll find Todd's Wine Bar, which dates back to 1869 and retains its Victorian character with its wood-pannelled bar and high ceilings. The pub even has the original 19th century cooker used to roast coffee beans.

Top 5 reviews of Jamaica Wine House

Jamaica Wine House4.0 out of 5
11 June 2014

by Kevin J.

Busy, rambling and in the centre of the City. Decent food and Spitfire on tap. It's welcoming and, bearing in mind the average (half-witted City Boy) clientele, the staff do a damn good job. Definitely worth a visit.more

Jamaica Wine House3.0 out of 5
24 January 2014

by Kate B.

The pub is conveniently located and has a great history. However, it is pretty small which makes pub rush hour pretty tight. Also, there is a really small selection of things on tap - ciders, beers, etc. I suppose that's fair enough, since it does call itself a wine bar.more

Jamaica Wine House4.0 out of 5
23 October 2013

by Stefano P.

Hard to find, this little treasure of a pub is one you don't want to leave once you're there !

We stayed in the lower floor, which had a nice bar, well attended by the friendly staff.

The not-so-friendly prices of the wines were compensated by the fact that they were quite good. Although one of my colleagues got served bad red wine... No ill intention there, I'm sure ;)

I really like this place; probably my favourite after-work haunt for our Tower-42 crowd. Inside can be a bit cramped owing to the layout; which involves a long bar cut into smaller sectioned rooms. However there is plenty outside drinking room; business types and friends tend to stand with their pints and send someone inside for a round. It does tend to be a little less busy than some of it's...more

Jamaica Wine House4.0 out of 5
9 September 2013

by Laura Kate S.

Not as bursting at the seams as many City pubs, this place is tucked back down an alley behind a church. While the inside space is quite tight, with little seating available, there is much space outdoors for standing with your drink on a nice day. Having been here for a few centuries, the worn down front step is a really cool period feature. The downstairs level is called Todd's Wine Bar,...more

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